Cannabis plant named ‘Honey H-2018’

ABSTRACT

‘Honey H-2018’ is new Cannabis plant variety that has a combination of beneficial characteristics that include high potency, sweet aroma, greater tolerance for fungal diseases, and high vigor.

Genus and species: The Cannabis variety of this invention is botanically identified as Cannabis sativa.

Variety denomination: The variety denomination is ‘Honey H-2018’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to a new plant variety of Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) named ‘Honey H-2018’. The new Cannabis variety is product of a planned and controlled breeding program for new Cannabis varieties. The objective of the breeding program is to select new Cannabis varieties with a combination of desired vigor, potency, aroma, bud structure/form, yield, and tolerance or resistance to fungal diseases.

The new Cannabis variety is a product of a planned breeding program intended to combine some of the desirable characteristics of two existing varieties: G-13x Hashplant (a.k.a., “Retro Boogie”) (Cannabis indica) and SFV OG Kush x Jack's Cleaner 2 (a.k.a., “Long Bottom Leaf”) (Cannabis sativa). The variety arose from a cross between the parental varieties; using Long Bottom Leaf as the pollen donor. The parental cross was made in April 2017. Single plants were selected and reproduced by cuttings using traditional horticultural plugs, trays and domes. One of the reproduced plants showed pronounced vigor and was selected as and named ‘Honey H-2018’. This plant was transferred to the production on July 2017 and has been asexually reproduced by cuttings since that time. The distinctive characteristics of the variety are stable through successive generations.

The plant was asexually reproduced in Denver, Colo. For asexual reproduction, axillary branches of the plant were excised from the mother plant. The cuttings were treated with indole 3 butyric acid; the cuttings were allowed to root over a period of three weeks at a temperature of 77 degrees F., relative humidity of 60%-80% and constant illumination at an intensity of 100 PPFD.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Honey H-2018’ which in combination distinguish this Cannabis plant as a new and distinct variety, as compared to the parents, the closet varieties:

-   -   1. The new variety has higher potency as compared to the         parents, the closest varieties.     -   2. The new variety has a sweet aroma as compared to the earthy         or spicy aroma in the parents.     -   3. The new variety has a greater tolerance for fungal diseases         such as powdery mildew.     -   4. The new variety has more vigor as compared to the parents,         the closest varieties.

The traits of the new variety was tested at 2600 West Barberry Pl. Denver, Colo., U.S.A.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the appearance of the new Cannabis variety when the plants were at 63 days after flower initiation. The colors in the photographs are depicted as nearly true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors as shown in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description.

FIG. 1 shows a branch of a plant of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a single plant of the new variety.

FIG. 3 shows flowers of a plant of the new variety.

FIG. 4 shows a dried bud of a plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on observations made in February of 2016 on plants produced according to an ordinary growth cycle. However, the new Cannabis variety ‘Honey H-2018’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, light intensity and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The photographs and description are taken from plants grown at the 2600 West Barberry Pl. in Denver, Colo., U.S.A. Following rooting, the cuttings were transplanted into the growth medium, Hydroton®, and were grown for approximately 6 weeks or until roots emerged. The plants were then allowed to grow additional 9 weeks. During growth, all plants were fed and watered with nutrients from the Botanicare® Kind® line. Carbon dioxide concentration was measured and supplemented as required, between 900-1500 ppm. Vegetative growth was at a temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and relative humidity of 45 with constant illumination of 600 PPFD provided by 600 W Metal Halide grow lights. After adequate vegetative growth had been attained, flowering was induced by changing the photoperiod to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.

Plants were observed on day 63 after the flower induction and the botanical description thereof is provided below. Characteristics described represent those which are typical for the new variety. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for 12 typical plants and plant parts. The actual measurements of any individual plant of plant parts, or any group of plants of plant parts, may vary from the stated averages.

Plant Description

TABLE 1 General Parental Parental Check variety variety Variety (Female (Pollen (Cannabis Characteristic New Variety plant) donor) Sativa) Plant life forms Herba- Herba- Herba- Herba- ceous Plant ceous Plant ceous Plant ceous Plant Plant growth habit Upright, Upright, Upright, Upright, tap-rooted tap-rooted tap-rooted tap-rooted annual annual annual annual plant plant plant plant Plant origin F1 hybrid F1 Cannabis F1 hybrid F1 hybrid between two Subspecies between between Cannabis (G-13 x two two Subspecies Hashplant) Cannabis Cannabis ((G-13 x Subspecies Subspecies Hashplant) x (SFV (Lambs (SFV OG OG Kush x Bread x Kush x Jack's Jack's Sour Cleaner 2) Cleaner 2) Diesel) Plant propagation Asexual Asexual Asexual Asexual Propagation ease Easy¹ Easy Moderate² Moderate Height Variable; 1 Variable; 1 Variable; Variable; (Unit: m or cm) meter meter 1 meter 1 meter Width Variable; Variable; Variable; Variable; (Unit: m or cm) 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 meters meters meters meters Plant vigor High High Medium High Time to Harvest 18-20 18-20 18-20 18-20 (Seed to Harvest) weeks weeks weeks weeks Resistance to pests No No No No or non-fungal diseases? Is this plant a No No No No Genetically Modified Organism? ¹Easy refers to plants that don't require any special products, chemicals or hormones for rooting. Roots will also show up within 10-14 days. ²Moderate refers to plants that may take 14-21 days with an increase in rooting after additional hormone or nutrient has been introduced.

TABLE 2 Leaf/Foliage Parental Parental variety variety New (Female (Pollen Check Characteristic Variety plant) donor) Variety Leaf Alternate Alternate Alternate Alternate arrangement (Phyllotaxy) Leaf shape Palmately Palmately Palmately Palmately compound compound compound compound Leaf structure Palmately Palmately Palmately Palmately compound compound compound compound Leaf margins Coarsely Coarsely Coarsely Coarsely serrated serrated serrated serrated pointing pointing pointing pointing towards tip towards tip towards tip towards tip of leaflet of leaflet of leaflet of leaflet Leaf hairs Absence Absence Absence Absence (Presence or absence) Leaf length 20 16 16 18 with petiole at maturity (Unit: cm) Petiole length 12 10 11 12 at maturity (Unit: cm) Stipule length 1 1 1 1 at maturity (Unit: cm) Stipule shape Long, Long, Long, Long, bulbous bulbous bulbous bulbous bases with bases with bases with bases with acuminate acuminate acuminate acuminate (tapering (tapering (tapering (tapering concave to concave to concave to concave to apex) shape apex) shape apex) shape apex) shape Number of 5-9 5-9 5-9 5-9 leaflets Middle largest 8 6 8 8 (longest) leaflet length (Unit: cm) Middle largest 2 2 2 2 (longest) leaflet width (Unit: cm) Middle largest 4:1 3:1 4:1 4:1 (longest) leaflet length/width ratio Number teeth 12 13 11 13 of middle leaflet (average) Leaf (upper 141C 141C 141C 141C side) color (RHS³ No.) Leaf (lower 143A 143A 143A 143A side) color (RHS No.) Leaf glossiness Medium Medium Medium Medium Vein/midrib Even, not Even, not Even, not Even, not shape alternate. alternate. alternate. alternate. (general Slightly points Slightly Slightly Slightly description) towards tip just points points points like the towards tip towards tip towards tip serrations just like the just like the just like the serrations serrations serrations Vein/midrib Light green Light green Light green Light green color (RHS 140B) (RHS 140B) (RHS 140B) (RHS 140B) Aroma Sweet Earthy Herbal/Spicy Gas/Fuel, (general Earthy description) ³RHS stands for Royal Horticultural Colour Chart, which can be found at: rhscforgfree.com

TABLE 3 Stem Parental Parental variety variety (Female (Pollen Check Characteristic New Variety plant) donor) Variety Stem shape hollow, large, hollow, hollow, large, hollow, large, (general rugose, large, rugose, rugose, rugose, description) punctuate, punctuate, punctuate, punctuate, minutely minutely minutely minutely glandular, glandular, glandular, glandular, ribbed with ribbed with ribbed with ribbed with ribs running ribs running ribs running ribs running parallel parallel to parallel to parallel to stem stem stem to stem Stem 1.25 1 1.5 1 diameter at base (Unit: cm) Stem color 144D 144D 144D 144D (RHS No.)

TABLE 4 Inflorescence (Female/Pistillate Flowers) Parental Parental New Variety variety variety Charac- (Female (Female (Pollen Check teristic plant) plant) donor) Variety Flowering Dioecious. Dioecious. Dioecious. Dioecious. (blooming) Forms a tall Forms a tall Small habit intercon- intercon- inflores- (General nected nected cences, description) cola or cola or tightly terminal terminal packed bud bud against stem and separated all along plants branches. Proportion 50% N/A N/A N/A of female plants (50% or less?) Inflores- Above Above Above Above cence position Flower Over- Over- Over- Over- arrange- lapping* lapping* lapping* lapping* ment Number of 240 190 210 200 flowers per plant Flower sessile sessile sessile sessile shape and are and are and are and are borne in borne in borne in borne in racemes. racemes. racemes. racemes. Each Each Each Each flower has a flower has a flower has a flower has a small green small green small green small green bract bract bract bract enclosing enclosing enclosing enclosing the ovary the ovary the ovary the ovary with with with with two long, two long, two long, two long, slender slender slender slender stigmas stigmas stigmas stigmas projecting projecting projecting projecting well well well well above above above above the bract. the bract. the bract. the bract. And the And the And the And the flower flower flower flower looks looks looks looks urceolate urceolate urceolate urceolate (urn- (urn- (urn- (urn- shaped). shaped). shaped). shaped). Flower 3 3 3 3 (individual pistillate) length (Unit: mm) Flower 2 2 1.5 2 (Racemes) diameter (Unit: cm) Bract shape Round at the Round at the Round at the Round at the (general base but base but base but base but description) tapered tapered tapered tapered towards towards towards towards the tip the tip the tip the tip Bract color 142C 142C 142C 142C (RHS No.) Calyx shape Round Round Round Round (general description) Calyx color 142C 142C 142C 142C (RHS No.) Stigma Curved and Curved and Curved and Curved and shape wavy, thin wavy, thin wavy, thin wavy, thin (general description) Stigma 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 length (Unit: cm) Stigma closely closely closely closely color resembling resembling resembling resembling (RHS No.) an an an an off white or off white or off white or off white or NN155D NN155D NN155D NN155D Trichome Glandular, Glandular, Glandular, Glandular, shape thus thus thus thus (general it has a stalk it has a stalk it has a stalk it has a stalk description) that supports that supports that supports that supports secretory secretory secretory secretory head head head head Trichome Mature Mature Mature Mature color cap = cap = cap = cap = (RHS No.) N172C N172C N172C N172C Stalk = Stalk = Stalk = Stalk = Clear/ Clear/ Clear/ Clear/ Translucent Translucent Translucent Translucent closely closely closely closely resembling resembling resembling resembling an an an an off white or off white or off white or off white or NN155D NN155D NN155D NN155D Terminal Rounded top Large inter- Small, Round but bud shape buds with connected rounded with (general slightly fox cola or and textured description) tailing terminal slightly flat projections bud. on top. (fox tails). Conical Spikey Terminal 142C 142C 142C 142C bud color (RHS No.) Pedicel absence absence absence absence (Presence or absence) Staminate N/A N/A Round sacks N/A shape of modular composition like the hand of a banana but originating from a set of stems similar to grapes Pollen N/A N/A Typical N/A description yellow pollen with musty smell Seed Starts off Starts off N/A Starts off description white and white and white and turns to turns to turns to Brown with Brown with Brown with black or black or black or dark brown dark brown dark brown stripes stripes stripes Petal absence absence absence absence description Tetra- 25-28% 22-24% N/A (male) 20-24% hydrocan- THC THC THC nabinolic acid (THC) content** *overlapping refers to the stacking of the bud structure. **THC content was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (“HPLC”) with Diode-Array Detection (“DAD”).

TABLE 5 Other Characteristics and culture New Parental Parental Variety variety variety (Female (Female (Pollen Check Characteristic plant) plant) donor) Variety Time Blooms in Blooms in Blooms in Blooms in period 9-11 weeks 9-11 weeks 9-11 9-11 and after cutting- after cutting- weeks after weeks after condition of and-rooting and-rooting cutting-and- cutting-and- flowering/ when more when more rooting when rooting when blooming than 12 than 12 more than 12 more than 12 hours light hours light hours light is hours light is applied is applied to applied to is applied to induce induce induce to induce flowering flowering flowering flowering Hardiness High High Medium Medium of plant⁵ Breaking High High Medium Medium action⁴ Rooting rate 9 days 9 days 9 days 9 days after cutting/cloning (under certain or specific condition) ⁴refers to how strong the stem is against the breakage such as fibrous, strong, flexible, resistant to breakage, etc. ⁵A high hardiness refers to drought resistant; low nutrient requirement/demand; wind resistant due to strong branching and turgidity, along with above average rooting ability (anchoring).

Additional Characteristics

The plant has high vigor. As one example, 1,750.8 lbs of usable plant matter were harvested in 2020, of which 1,311.1 lbs were bud and 439.7 lbs were trim.

Main stem grooves are shallow. Internode length is medium. Average terminal bud size is medium (4″-5″). Aroma is spicy and floral, with a hint of musk. Flowers are light green, lime, orange, or white.

Shipping quality: This strain can be stored for 6 months prior to final packaging. Plant materials can be used include, for example, raw flower, prerolled joints. Plant materials can also be used in concentrates.

Average width of the leaf is 4.5″. Fragrance is a mix of creeping thyme and tricolor sage. Petiole surface is punctuated with farinose trichomes. Stipule's surface is glabrous. Anthocyanin coloration on the petiole—very strong. Stipule's color is green.

Average size of bract is ¼ inch and the average size of bracteoles is ¼ inch.

Trichomes are clear, begin to turn translucent/milky white around day 50 of flowering stage.

Types of glandular trichomes include a) Bulbous, b) Capitate-sessile, and c) Capitate-stalked. Types of non-glandular trichomes present include a) Cystolith hairs and b) Tear-drop shaped. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Cannabis plant named ‘Honey H-2018’ having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein. 